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EnviroSolution Ltd
Environmental consultancy service

Infiltration Testing

Infiltration Testing supports drainage design and planning condition discharge by assessing how surface water can soak into the ground.

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Scope and evidence

Built around planning, development and compliance decisions.

Use this page to understand when the service is usually needed, what evidence is reviewed and what information helps us quote accurately.

  • Planning and regulator context
  • Clear deliverables and next steps
  • Linked services considered early

Soakaway design relies on site-specific infiltration evidence. Test locations, pit geometry, groundwater conditions and the proposed drainage layout all influence whether the result is useful to the drainage engineer.

01

When this service is used

Commonly used for planning conditions, drainage strategies, soakaway design and sites where surface water disposal needs evidence for the project team or local authority.

Planning and project supportUsed for SuDS and drainage design, planning applications and condition discharge where infiltration is being considered as part of the surface-water hierarchy.
Risk and programme controlTesting early can establish whether infiltration is viable before a drainage strategy is built around soakaways that the ground cannot support.
02

What the report normally includes

  • Infiltration test scope review
  • Site-specific testing approach based on ground conditions
  • Results suitable for drainage design input
  • Commentary on suitability for soakaway or infiltration drainage
  • Clear limitations and next-step advice where required
03

What we need from you

Providing the right information at the start helps us confirm the scope, quote accurately and avoid back-and-forth once the work is underway.

  • Site address and postcode
  • Proposed drainage layout if available
  • Trial pit or access constraints
  • Planning condition wording if applicable
  • Required reporting deadline
04

Infiltration testing needs representative ground and a usable test position

Field infiltration testing being undertaken on a development site.
Field testing supporting evidence-led drainage and ground design decisions.
What a robust scope should cover
  • Review of proposed soakaway areas and available ground information
  • Test-pit locations selected to represent the intended drainage zones
  • Infiltration testing using an appropriate field method such as BRE 365 where applicable
  • Recorded water-level fall and repeat-test data
  • Observation of ground conditions and groundwater where encountered
  • Results presented so the drainage designer can use them in the surface-water strategy
What the work should leave you with
  • Site-specific infiltration rates for the tested locations
  • Evidence on whether infiltration drainage is likely to be viable
  • Ground observations relevant to soakaway siting
  • Clear limitations where conditions prevent a representative test
Why the detail mattersAn infiltration number is only useful when the test reflects the proposed drainage location and ground conditions. Testing an easy but unrepresentative corner of the site can mislead the design.
05

Useful to know before you enquire

Plant access may be neededTest pits normally require suitable excavation equipment and safe access to the proposed test locations.
Groundwater level mattersShallow groundwater can limit infiltration drainage even where the near-surface material appears permeable.
Testing should align with the drainage layoutIf the proposed soakaway zones are known, send the plan so test positions can target them.
Poor infiltration does not end the drainage strategyIt may mean the design needs attenuation and controlled discharge or another surface-water route rather than soakaways.
FAQ

Common questions

How many infiltration tests do I need?

That depends on site size, variability and the proposed drainage layout. The aim is to obtain representative evidence for the areas where infiltration is intended.

What if the ground does not infiltrate well?

The drainage strategy can consider other options in the surface-water hierarchy, such as attenuation with a controlled discharge, subject to the site and approvals.

Can infiltration testing be combined with ground investigation?

Often yes. Coordinating trial pits and other intrusive work can reduce mobilisation, provided the locations and test methods meet the drainage requirements.

Next

Related services

These services are often reviewed alongside Infiltration Testing depending on the site, planning context and proposed development.

Sustainable Drainage Strategies Suds Drainage And Flood RiskPhase 1 Desktop StudyGeotechnical
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